Piano touch instructor apparatus



Au@ 8, 1967 1 R. WITHERS 3,334,535

PIANO TOUCH INSTRUCTOR APPARATUS INVENTOR.

Loren R. Withers /L-'I X ATTORNEYS /j Aug 8 967 yI.. R. WITHERS3,334,535

PIANO TOUCH INSTRUCTOR APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 laM12 a [lllr a u MII IM lIIl 2O "gq III II I |II I! 15/ I IIIIH FIG. 5

40 33 II.'l III 34 I C37 In 33 FIG. 6

/40 m 5645 45, T1413 If/ZifQO/zg 3 y, ,3% 33 3o/H* ef I /7l55 58 .l L'.L 13 7l 51 /tyvQ// /132 11 12 (18 '1724 15J 1o -n FIG. 8

lNvENToR.

Loren R. Withers United States Patent O 3 334,535 PIANO TOUCH INSTRUCTORAPPARATUS Loren R. Withers, 2741 Dogwood Road, Durham, NC. 27705 FiledAug. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 572,996 6 Claims. (Cl. 841-467) This inventionrelates to a piano training apparatus and, more particularly, to anapparatus which aids a piano student in obtaining certain basic muscularcoordinations necessary for playing that instrument.

One of the many techniques a beginning pianist must learn is that oflegato playing, which is the smooth and complete connection ofsuccessive piano tones without breaks or interruptions between the same.In legato playing, -the pianist having struck one key -must hold thatkey on its bed until the next key is struck and reaches its bedwhereupon the rst key may be released. Such a technique is oftenreferred to by leading authorities as a transfer of weight and isdifficult for a novice to learn for it requires a certain degree ofmuscular coordination to maintain the first key on its rbed and withoutit surfacing until the next key is struck and reaches its bed.

It is common practice for the beginning pianist to either hit or slap atthe keys without sufficient effort towards the key bed to prevent arebound of that key thus resulting in an incomplete legato. A completeconnection of tones resulting in a true legato is difficult to obtain asthe effort upon one key bed must be continued for the duration of thelega-to. To teach the beginner to play with relaxed but sufficientlycontrolled fingers, wrists and arms is very tedious and time-consuming;therefore, it would be an 'advancement in the art to provide aninstrument which aids the student in gaining the necessary coordinationof the several joints comprising the pianists playing mechanism.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an instrument forteaching the pianist certain basic coordinations between his lingers,wrists fand arms which will enable 'him to control legato passages.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument for thebeginning pianist upon which the ydesirable trait of wrist flexibilityand purposeful control may be learned and practiced.

A further object of this invention is to provide an instrument withelements resembling the keys of a piano and its function upon which thebeginning pianist may practice to build playing strength andcoordination.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an instrumentwith a plurality of piano-key-like elements which have been joined toform a single working surface the pressure of which to force the sameagainst its key bed may be adjustable thus simulating the continuouseffort required for executing the given musical passage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the instrument showing the adjustableweight mounted on the track and the keyboard positioned to receive thefingers of the pianist;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the invention showing the fulcrum whichis mounted on the bed board receiving the totter board and in skeletons,the totter board being depressed against the front end of the bed board;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the instrument as shown in FIGURE 2 and inskeletons, showing a sample of the other locations at. which the weightmay be placed;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the bed board;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 3,333,533 PatentedAug. 8, 1967 of FIGURE 2 showing the bed board, fulcrum `and aligningpm;

FIGURE 6 is a left-hand elevation view of the instrument as shown inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a right-hand elevation of the instrument as shown in FIGURE2; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIGURE 3 showingthe bearing means for mounting the adjustable weight on the track.

One embodiment of the present invention contemplates mounting anelongated totter board on a bed board so that the rear end thereof issubstantially adjacent the rear en'd of the bed board while the forwardend thereof is slightly raised from that adjacent end of the bed boardto simulate the depth of a standard piano key. The raised end of thetotter board is adapted to be forced downwardly and into contact withthe juxtaposed end of the bed board. The totter board is provided withan elongated slot which travels a portion of the length thereof andwhich slidably receives a weight whereby the force required to push theraised end of the totter board downwardly against the bed board may bevaried. The raised or forward end of the totter board is provided wit'hpiano key simulations which are adapted to receive the fingers of apianist and upon the pressing of the simultations downwardly, theforward end of the totter board strikes the forward end of the bedboar-d. The fingers for holding the totter board adjacent the bed boardmay then be exchanged. By maintaining the forward end of totter board onthe bed board and exchanging fingers, the feel of transferring theweight or effort of the arm from one finger tip to another may be donein a continuous legato manner. By continuing the exchange of fingers onthe totter board while maintaining the forward end thereof adjacent thebed board, the pianist may then practice the relaxation of musclessupporting the arms so as to allow the arm weight to pass through thefinger tips into the playin-g surface to eliminate unnecessary fixationof the playing mechanism and increase the readiness for anticipatedmoves. By moving the adjustable weight farther or nearer to the pianokey simulations, the pianist may p-ractice the sensation of releasinginto the totter board more or less effort which would be analogous toproducing greater or lesser tones in the piano as desired in the musicbeing performed. Thus, the key bed effort required in playing certainpassages of music may be simulated by the teacher for the student. Insummary, the pianist may be taught by the apparatus of this inventionhow to produce and connect tones without undue fixation of the playingmechanism and without undue relaxation of the same.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which the figures are illustrative of the preferredembodiment of the invention.

An elongated, substantially rectangular bed board 10 is provided withcushions 11 which are securely positioned at the respective cornersthereof and are adapted to engage a fiat surface. It is contemplatedthat bed board 10 is to be made from finished wood; however, it may alsobe made from other aesthetically pleasing materials such as finishedplastic. A guide post 12 is perpendicularly mounted in and extendsupwardly from one end of bed board 10 and has an annular rubbercushioning element 14 surrounding the same which is adhered to the uppersurface 13 of bed board 1t). Approximately equidistant between the endsof bed board 10 and on upper surface 13, a fulcrum 15 is mounted thereonwhich includes an arcuated pivot member 17, a cushion 18 and a screw 20.Screw 20 has a flat head portion 22, a smooth shaft portion 23 and athreaded portion 24. Screw 20 is perpendicularly arranged so that itsthreaded portion 24 extends through member 17 and into bed board 10 andsmooth shaft member 23 has* one end thereof resting adjacent member 17sothat as screw 20 is turned, member 17 is held against bed board 10.

The apparatus of this invention is further provided with a totter board30 which is substantially of the same geometric shape and of the samematerial as bed board and includes a top surface 31 and a bottom surface32. Top surface 31 has mounted at one end thereof a covering 33 which isto correspond to a group of white keys on a piano keyboard. Covering 33has mounted thereon a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart, elongatedmembers 34 which are positioned to simulate a group of black keys on aregular piano keyboard. At the other end of top surface 31 of totterboard 30, an elongated recession 35 is provided therein. Recession 35 ispartially covered by means of a rectangular track 37 which includes anelongated slot 38 extending substantially the length thereof. Track 37is secured to totter board 30 by means of screws 36. A weight 40 whichis adapted to be movable along the path as defined by slot 38 includes athreaded shaft 41 which is threadably mounted in the lower surface ofweight 40 and extends downwardly therefrom, upper and lower nylonfrictionless washers 43 and 44 which are adapted to reside on the upperand lower surfaces of track 37, an annular washer 45, and a springwasher 46. Threaded shaft 41 has lower nylon frictionless washer 44,annular washer 45 and spring washer 46 mounted thereon adjacent itsouter end and upper nylon frictionless washer 43 mounted adjacent itsentrance into weight 40 so that upon the tightening of threaded shaft 41in weight 40, upper and lower nylon frictionless washers 43 and 44engage track 37 with sufficient pressure so that once weight 40 has beenmoved to a desired location, nylon washers 43 and 44 press against track37 and hold weight 40 in that desired location.

Upper surface 31 of totter board 30 is provided with an opening 50 whichis aligned with the axis of screw 20. Opening 50 extends perpendicularlythrough totter board 30 and consists of small bore 51 and large bore 52.Small bore 51 receives smooth shaft portion 23 of screw Z0 while largerbore 52 receives flat head portion 22 of threaded bolt 20 so that totterboard 30 may be held in place against fulcrum by means of screw 20.Small bore 51 is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of smoothshaft portion 23 of threaded bolt 20 so that totter board 30 may pivoton fulcrum 15 unobstructedly.

Bottom surface 32 of totter board 30 is provided with cushions 54 and 55which are adjacent the forward end thereof so that upon the downwardpivoting of totter board 30, cushions 54 and 55 strike the upper surfaceof bed board 10. Bottom surface 32 of totter board 30 is provided withan inlet 56 which extends a distance into the same and which is adaptedto receive the upper portions of shaft 12 so as to align totter board 30relative bed board 10. A guide 58 is mounted on bottom surface 32 oftotter board 30 and circumscribes opening 56 so that upon that end oftotter board 30 pivoting downwardly to strike bed board 10, guide 58strikes cushion 14 to mule the impact between totter board 30 and bedboard 10.

In operation, the pianist determines the amount of force which isdesired to press totter board 30 downwardly l against bed board 10 bymoving weight 40 along the path as defined by groove 38. As the pianistpresses downwardly for example on simulated keys 33 or 34, totter board30 pivots on fulcrum 15 and about screw 20 whereby cushions 54 and 55strike the corresponding surface of bed board 10. Simultaneously theopposite end of totter board 30 is guided in its upward travel by shaft12 which is slidably mounted in opening 56 so that the proper verticalalignment between totter board 30 and bed board 10 is maintained. Thus,the pianist is adapted to coordinate his entire playing mechanism so asto produce proper legato tones by transferring force from one linger tipto 4 another finger tip without letting keys 33 and 34 rise from theirrespective beds.

In reference to FIGURE 3, the top surface of bed board 10 is providedwith small indicators 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 which are calibratedwhen weight 40 is adjacent that selected indicator to require a forceo-f 3 ounces, 6 ounces, 9 ounces, 12 ounces, 15 ounces and 18 ounces,respectively, on key simulations 33 in order to pivot that end of totterboard 30 into contact with the corresponding end of bed board 10. In astandard piano, a force of 3 ounces is required to press a selected keyagainst its key bed and to produce a tone, a force of 4 ounces isrequired. Thus, it can be seen that by selectively moving weight 40along track 37, the force of pressing key simulations 33 dow-nwardlywith one or several fingers against bed bo-ard 10 is equal to the forcerequired on a standard piano to press downwardly the same number of keyssimultaneously.

While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, itis to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a piano touch instructor for aiding a piano student in obtainingcertain desirable and basic muscular coordinations, an apparatuscomprising:

(a) an elongated bed board having upper and lower parallel surfaces andrear and forward ends;

(b) a fulcrum securely mounted on said upper surface substantiallyequidistant between said rear and forward ends of said bed board;

(c) an elongated totter board being substantially equal in length tosaid bed board and having rear and forward ends in juxtaposition withsaid respective rear and forward ends of said bed board, said totterboard having top and bottom parallel surfaces, said bottom surfaceresting on and being pivotally connected to said fulcrum, said topsurface being provided with piano key simulating means adjacent saidforward end and a longitudinally arranged track means extendingforwardly from said rear end toward said simulating means, said pianokey means being adapted to receive an external force, said forward endof said totter board being normally positioned above said forward end ofsaid bed board and said rear end of said totter board normally being incontact with said rear end of said bed board whereby upon said forcebeing exerted on said piano key means, said forward end of said totterboard strikes said forward end of said bed board and said rear end ofsaid totter board is raised out of contact with said rear end of saidbed board;

(d) a weight slidably mounted on said top surfaceof said totter boardalong said track means, said weight having an extension for engagingsaid track means and for securing said weight to said totter boardwhereby said weight may be moved along across said top surface thelength of said track means; and

(e) means extending upwardly from said upper surface of said bed boardand being slidably received by said totter board for establishing avertical plane of travel during the pivoting of said totter board onsaid fulcrum.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said totter board is provided withan opening extending inwardly from its bottom' surface, and wherein saidupwardly extending means mounted on said bed board is a stake, saidstake being perpendicularly arranged with respect to said upper surfaceand the upper portions thereof being adapted to be slidably received bysaid opening in said bottom surface of said totter board.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said top surface of said totterboard is provided with a longitudinally extended groove at said rear endthereof and extending forwardly toward said piano key simulations andsaid longitudinally arranged track means is comprised of said groove andan elongated plate mounted on said top surface and covering said groove,said plate having an elongated slot extending substantially the lengththereof and in communication with said groove.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said weight is comprised of a solidmass of matter having a smooth bottom surface and having an opening insaid bottom surface, a retractable shaft extending downwardly from saidbottom surface and partially residing in said Opening and clamping meanscooperating with said shaft for slidably grasping said elongated platein the areas adjacent said groove whereby said weight mass may be movedon said plate along said groove to any selected position and held inthat position by said clamping means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said groove has associated along thelength thereof indicator means for determining the force required topress said forward end of said totter board against said forward end ofsaid bed board when said weight is at selected positions along saidgroove.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said totter board is provided withan opening extending vertically through the same in communication withsaid fulcrum and said fulcrum includes pivot member residing on saidupper surface of said bed board and a screw perpendicularly mounted onsaid upper surface of said bed board and extending through said pivotmember to securely press said pivot member against said bed board, saidstake having an upper portion being received by said opening extendingthrough said totter board and about which said totter board pivots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1872 Wenzel 84-467 5/1940 Hesse84-465

1. IN A PIANO TOUCH INSTRUCTOR FOR AIDING A PIANO STUDENT IN OBTAININGCERTAIN DESIRABLE AND BASIC MUSCULAR COORDINATIONS, AN APPARATUSCOMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BED BOARD HAVING UPPER AND LOWER PARALLELSURFACES AND REAR AND FORWARD ENDS; (B) A FULCRUM SECURELY MOUNTED ONSAID UPPER SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT BETWEEN SAID REAR ANDFORWARD ENDS OF SAID BED BOARD; (C) AN ELONGATED TOTTER BOARD BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN LENGTH TO SAID BED BOARD AND HAVING REAR ANDFORWARD ENDS IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH SAID RESPECTIVE REAR AND FORWARD ENDSOF SAID BED BOARD, SAID TOTTER BOARD HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM PARALLELSURFACES, SAID BOTTOM SURFACE RESTING ON AND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDTO SAID FULCRUM, SAID TOP SURFACE BEING PROVIDED WITH PIANO KEYSIMULATING MEANS ADJACENT SAID FORWARD END AND A LONGITUDINALLY ARRANGEDTRACK MEANS EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID REAR END TOWARD SAIDSIMULATING MEANS, SAID PIANO KEY MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ANEXTERNAL FORCE, SAID FORWARD END OF SAID TOTTER BOARD BEING NORMALLYPOSITIONED ABOVE SAID FORWARD END OF SAID BED BOARD AND SAID REAR END OFSAID TOTTER BOARD NORMALLY BEING IN CONTACT WITH SAID REAR END OF SAIDBED BOARD WHEREBY UPON SAID FORCE BEING EXERTED ON SAID PIANO KEY MEANS,SAID FORWARD END OF SAID TOTTER BOARD STRIKES SAID FORWARD END OF SAIDBED BOARD AND SAID REAR END OF SAID TOTTER BOARD IS RAISED OUT OFCONTACT WITH SAID REAR END OF SAID BED BOARD; (D) A WEIGHT SLIDABLYMOUNTED ON SAID TOP SURFACE OF SAID TOTTER BOARD ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS,SAID WEIGHT HAVING AN EXTENSION FOR ENGAGING SAID TRACK MEANS AND FORSECURING SAID WEIGHT TO SAID TOTTER BOARD WHEREBY SAID WEIGHT MAY BEMOVED ALONG ACROSS SAID TOP SURFACE THE LENGTH OF SAID TRACK MEANS; AND(E) MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BED BOARDAND BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED BY SAID TOTTER BOARD FOR ESTABLISHING AVERTICAL PLANE OF TRAVEL DURING THE PIVOTING OF SAID TOTTER BOARD ONSAID FULCRUM.